Dynamic three-dimensional ultrasound study on levator ani muscle fissures for female pelvic floor relaxation syndrome / 中华胃肠外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the value of dynamic three-dimensional ultrasound in detecting the levator ani muscle fissures morphological changes of female pelvic floor relaxation syndrome after biofeedback and acupuncture treatments.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty female constipation patients with pelvic floor relaxation syndrome were screened from the Constipation Designed Disease Clinic in our hospital between October 2011 and September 2012. Cleveland Constipation Score (CCS) scale was used. Anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the levator ani muscle fissures were measured by dynamic three-dimensional ultrasound in Valsalva maneuver. After a course (10 days) of biofeedback and acupuncture treatments, CCS scale was filled, and dynamic three-dimensional ultrasound was performed in Valsalva maneuver as well. Associated data before and after treatment were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-five patients completed the trial. As compared to pre-treatment, the longitudinal axes of levator ani muscle fissure [(4.89±0.89) cm vs. (5.13±0.82) cm, P<0.01], the horizontal axes of the levator ani muscle fissure [(4.62±0.75) cm vs. (4.86±0.74) cm, P<0.01], and the area of the levator ani muscle fissure [(18.16±6.42) cm(2) vs. (19.92±6.33) cm(2), P<0.01] decreased significantly after treatment, while CCS scale (9.52±2.50 vs. 15.80±3.42, P<0.01) declined significantly as well.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The dynamic three-dimensional ultrasound is an effective, simple and non-invasive method for the determination of levator ani muscle fissure in female patients with pelvic floor relaxation syndrome.</p>